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<< Previous   of   Next >> (click to enlarge) Keith Emerson of Emerson, Lake and Palmer; Everett radio host Jeff Aaron; Simon Kirke of Bad Company; and Alan White of Yes attend the Dec. 10 Led Zeppelin concert in London.   ADVERTISEMENT   CONTACT THE HERALD Robert Frank, City Editor frank@heraldnet.com   Published: Friday, January 18, 2008 Everett radio host attends Led Zeppelin concert By Kristi O'Harran, Herald columnist For fans around the world, Dec. 10 was a red-letter day. The surviving members of Led Zeppelin were getting back together for a concert in London. The upcoming show would be the first full concert since the death of drummer John Bonham in 1980. An international lottery would be held to see who got a chance to buy any of the 20,000 tickets. Knowing his chances of winning were slim to none, Everett radio host Jeff "The Fish" Aaron was still determined to go. "I whined and cried as best I could on my radio show for days," Aaron said. "Reports claim 7 to 9 million fans attempted to win tickets via the lottery. I was right, I didn't win." But miracles do happen. Someone knew someone who won the lottery, giving them the right to buy the tickets at the O2 Arena in London. The winner -- Aaron called him Led Zep Jay -- was taking a lawyer friend to the concert. The show was planned for Nov. 26, but had to be rescheduled to Dec. 10 because Jimmy Page injured a finger. Led Zep Jay's lawyer friend couldn't make the new date. So Aaron bought his ticket for $400. There was still the matter of getting to England. Aaron, who combines rock 'n' roll and sports on his shows, often plays drums on stage with local bands such as The Beatniks, The Machine and Big Top. "One of my longtime Seattle friends is rock drumming legend Alan White (of Yes), who just happened to be invited as a warm-up performer to the Led Zep show. He said he was flying to England on a private jet." Aaron sheepishly wondered if there was an empty seat on the plane. What could be the harm in asking? "A mere 15 minutes later I was invited aboard a private luxury jet, a Challenger 300, owned by a wealthy Seattle businessman, who has a great affinity towards rock 'n' roll. He paid $15,000 for his Zep tickets." Dreams came true, clicking off one by one. The plane stopped in Iceland for a Christmas party. On the way home, Aaron experienced the holiday season in New York, his first visit, including seeing the sidewalk where John Lennon was slain and Rockefeller Center. In London, the line for the show crackled with energy. "Everyone shared incredible stories of how they received their tickets, winning the lottery, invited by friends. Fifty different countries were represented at the concert." Then there was the frosting on the cake: Aaron was given a backstage pass from White. Someone famous was at every turn. Guitar legend Jeff Beck. Brian May, Ph.D., astronomer and Queen guitarist. Dave Grohl of the Foo Fighters; actor Michael J. Fox; former Mariners player Randy Johnson; Simon Kirke of Bad Company; Chris Squire of Yes; Keith Emerson of Emerson, Lake and Palmer; models Naomi Campbell and Kate Moss; and Steve Hackett of Genesis ... Back in his seat, lights dimmed. "Led Zep!" Aaron said. "I fought back tears. They opened with 'Good Times, Bad Times,' the first track on their very first Zep vinyl record. Perfect choice." During a bathroom break, he saw James Young of Styx and Joe Elliot of Def Leppard. Walking back to his seat, "I stumbled into the path of an approaching gentleman wearing a long, dark coat. I just brushed face to face with him." It was Paul McCartney. Columnist Kristi O'Harran: 425-339-3451, oharran@heraldnet.com.

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